Like other major tournaments, Asia Cup has its own significance in India and its sub-continent. This article talks about three T20 Asia Cup editions and their winners and runners-up. All you need to do is just go through the information till the last paragraph and you will get to know the final outcomes of these three editions.
ODI matches were traditionally a part of the Asia Cup tournament. However, T20 format was included in the tournament in 2016 and it again returned in 2022 and in 2025.
India brought trophy home of both the first and third T20 Asia Cup tournaments, while Sri Lanka won it in 2022. Despite attending the final twice, Pakistan failed to grab the trophy even a single time.
T20 Asia Cup Winners and Runners-Up List
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | India | Bangladesh | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2022 | Sri Lanka | Pakistan | Sri Lanka won by 23 runs |
| 2025 | India | Pakistan | India won by 5 wickets |
That is a short list compared with the overall Asia Cup history, but the three finals were quite different from one another. One was affected by rain, another turned after a Sri Lankan recovery, and the latest one went down to the final few balls.
2016: India Start the T20 Era with a Trophy
The first T20 Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh, and India ended it exactly as they would have wanted.
Bangladesh batted first in the final and scored 120/5 in 15 overs after the match was reduced because of rain. It wasn't a huge target, but Bangladesh still had a chance if they could take early wickets.
That never really happened. Shikhar Dhawan made 60, and Virat Kohli added an unbeaten 41 as India reached 122/2 in 13.5 overs. The eight-wicket win gave India the first T20 Asia Cup title.
There is also a small piece of trivia attached to this edition: India did not lose a single match in the tournament.
Winner: India
Runner-up: Bangladesh
Final: India won by 8 wickets
2022: Sri Lanka Recover from 58/5
Six years later, Sri Lanka produced perhaps the most memorable comeback of the three T20 finals.
Pakistan had Sri Lanka in real trouble early in the innings. Sri Lanka slipped to 58/5, and a final total of around 130 looked possible.
Then Bhanuka Rajapaksa changed the mood. He scored an unbeaten 71, while Wanindu Hasaranga contributed 36 from 21 balls. Sri Lanka eventually reached 170/6. Suddenly Pakistan had a much harder chase on their hands.
Pakistan did have Mohammad Rizwan at the crease for a while, but Sri Lanka kept finding important wickets. Wanindu Hasaranga removed Rizwan, Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah in a crucial over, and Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 147. Sri Lanka won by 23 runs.
Winner: Sri Lanka
Runner-up: Pakistan
Final: Sri Lanka won by 23 runs
2025: India and Pakistan Meet in the Final
The 2025 edition added something new to the Asia Cup record: an India-Pakistan final.
Pakistan made 146 after batting first. India then found themselves in trouble early in the chase at 20/3. That could easily have changed the final.
Instead, Tilak Varma stayed there. He finished unbeaten on 69, with Sanju Samson making 24 and Shivam Dube adding 33. India eventually reached 150/5 in 19.4 overs, winning with two balls left.
It was not a comfortable chase from the beginning. That is probably what makes the result more interesting. India had lost three wickets early, but Varma kept the innings together when the pressure was highest.
Winner: India
Runner-up: Pakistan
Final: India won by 5 wickets
Who Has Won the T20 Asia Cup Most Times?
After three T20 editions, the numbers are straightforward:
- India: 2 titles
- Sri Lanka: 1 title
- Pakistan: 0 titles
- Bangladesh: 0 titles
Pakistan has finished runner-up twice, while Bangladesh has one runner-up finish.
One thing worth remembering is that these figures apply only to the T20 editions. They should not be confused with the overall Asia Cup record, which includes several ODI editions.
Three Finals, Three Different Stories
The final scores give only part of the picture.
In 2016, India had a relatively simple chase after a rain-shortened game. In 2022, Sri Lanka first had to rescue its innings before defending 170. And in 2025, India had to recover from 20/3 while chasing Pakistan's 146.
That makes the short T20 Asia Cup history quite easy to remember: India started it with a win, Sri Lanka interrupted India's run, and India returned to the top in 2025.
For now, those are the three editions that make up the men's T20 Asia Cup record.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When was the first T20 Asia Cup played?
A1. The first men's Asia Cup played in T20I format was held in 2016, with India beating Bangladesh in the final.
Q2. Who won the T20 Asia Cup in 2022?
A2. Sri Lanka won the 2022 edition by defeating Pakistan by 23 runs in the final.
Q3. How many T20 Asia Cup titles has India won?
A3. India has won two T20 Asia Cup titles, in 2016 and 2025.
Q4. Has Pakistan won the T20 Asia Cup?
A4. Pakistan has not won a T20 edition. It finished runner-up in both 2022 and 2025.
Q5. Who won the 2025 T20 Asia Cup?
A5. India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the 2025 final. Tilak Varma's unbeaten 69 was the key innings in India's chase.
